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Welcome to Am I Infected

IMPORTANT UPDATE
Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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and future support of the best online support service for people living with,
affected by and at risk for HIV.

For the past 4 days, I have been scared and frustrated with what I did.

On Tuesday, I visited a strip club and proceeded with kissing and fingering a stripper. My biggest concern is with the kissing. I see so many mixed information regarding kissing with bleeding gums (I do have bleeding gums). Many say 'theoretical' chance of getting HIV from kissing and bleeding gums, but I do not know how to process this possibility of infection.

I do not know whether the stripper was HIV + or not.

After I went home, I brushed my teeth and noticed some blood while brushing. Am I at risk for HIV transmission of any kind?

It is killing me inside and I believe I will try to get tested in 3 months. If you anyone can ease my mind and let me know what I can expect, it would be greatly appreciated.

There have been exactly zero confirmed transmissions of HIV through kissing.

Google "meth mouth." If you AND your sexual partner do not resemble the most extreme of these photos, then there is really no conversation to be had on the topic.

You get HIV sexually from penetrative anal and vaginal sex. It's exactly that simple. I am sorry if other online resources do not perpetuate scientifically valid transmission information, but to dispute/disprove/disavow each and every instance of invalid/obsolete/inaccurate information is simply exhausting. Search these forums. We have more than covered the science behind transmission, and it won't affect your three free posts.

Please do that. If your worry is as great as you present, it will be time well spent.

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I will take my second free post to clear the air for myself. Largely, I see most reference of sites sourcing the CDC in its description of "deep kissing" and its possible HIV transmission. How the CDC says to refrain from deep kissing if there are sores, blood, open wounds, etc. in the mouth. I believe this stems from its own publication around 1997 on HIV and mucous transmission: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00048364.htm

I'm sure the impact the CDC has in publications will surely affect the public eye based on its implications of deep kissing. Has any of the newer research or advocates tried to make the CDC aware of its misinformation (regarding deep kissing and blood risk) as you have said there to be zero confirmed transmissions?

Ultimately, I am a novice when it comes to research on HIV. My information is collected from the internet, and the information on HIV and kissing (deep kissing included) and its possible risk is something that scares me. I am sure I am not alone in this thought.

I do trust your guide and words as well as others that I have now read from this site. I will refrain from my panic and believe that I am at NO RISK of HIV transmission.